An animation of SIPS construction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liTV_iLkdl0

Has a example video of how a SIPS panel how would be put together. Notice how the lack of framing construction can reduce construction time considerably.

Sources

Since I have no idea how to push posts back, I guess the first thing everyone gets to see will be my sources.

Morley, Michael. Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) Strength and Energy Efficiency through Structural Panel Construction. Newtown, CT: Taunton, 2000. Print.

Lightweight Composite Sandwich Panels - Bellcomb Technologies. Bellcomb Technologies Incorporated. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. .

PGI - Home. PacificGreenInnovations. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. .

SIPA | Structural Insulated Panel Association | SIPs.org. Structural Insulated Panel Association. Web. 23 Sept. 2011. .

SWISSCELL - The New Generation Honeycomb. Web. 23 Sept. 2011. .

Thomas, Robert. "MgO Board." MgO Board. BNP Media, 31 Oct. 2007. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. .

About MgO

Image from Wikipedia

First, a brief definition of MgO by Robert Thomas:

Magnesium oxide board “MgO board” is a factory-made, non-insulating sheathing board product. It can be used for a number of applications including wall and ceiling linings, fascias, soffits, tile backing and underlayments. It is made of magnesium oxide, a type of mineral cement, and is commonly called simply “MgO” (pronounced emm-gee-oh) due to its chemical composition of magnesium (chemical symbol Mg) and oxygen (chemical symbol O). Think of MgO as a type of sheathing board–sort of like drywall or cement board–but with much-improved characteristics such as fire resistance, weatherability, strength, resistance to mold and mildew, and so on.

From his definition we know that MgO shares many characteristics with the paper honeycomb in terms of its resilience to external elements. When both materials are combined, we obtain the same structural makeup as a SIPS panel, which lends itself to the same structural characteristics as well. Other interesting tidbits include its environmental friendliness compared to its competitors, and its track record in terms of usage. MgO in some form has been used since ancient times, seeing use in structures such as the pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Seeing those structures standing today is a possible testament to the useful potential of MgO.

Honeycomb Findings

Image from SwissCell website

Here are some findings on the capabilities of the paper honeycomb structure that will be used in our project.

According to PGI, the paper honeycomb can be:

- Durable, maintains dimensional stability even when wet

- Lasts for a minimum of 3 generations

- Resistant to fire, insects and water

These are hefty claims made by this manufacturer. A proper specs sheet should be reviewed before putting full confidence into these claims (will add later if found).

According to SwissCell, pioneers of this material, claims that the honeycomb paper becomes "a completely new material with its own characteristics (eg coal to diamonds)," once impregnated with resin and hardened. They also made the same claims of extreme resistance to fire, insects, weather, and earthquakes as PGI does. SwissCell markets the product in a variety of applications including Aircraft construction, road construction, furniture construction, and of course, building construction.

It's also worth noting that Bellcomb specializes with honeycomb panels, but does not focus on paper. An interesting graph that provides rough guidelines of material capabilities is provided here.

Contruction Details

Here are some important connection details that are used when building with SIPS. They should be similar if not the same as how MgO honeycomb panels are detailed. Some differences include how anchor bolts work (they should go the entire height of the wall instead), and how adhesive application should work (direct adhesives to the honeycomb paper is probably not advisable). Images are from the SIPA website.















This hold down detail is from Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

Considerations when designing with SIPS

Here are a few observations I have made from building with this material. Due to the similarity between SIPS and MgO/honeycomb panels, they should directly apply to our design considerations.

- Smaller made panels (i.e. 4ft width) can reduce waste and be erected by less crew. Well placed thought into sizing the panels will give significant reduction in costs.

- Special attention should be given to connectors and screws. Typical materials used with frame based construction might not be relevant to the application of a SIP.

- If scale of building become larger, expect the usage of construction vehicles such as a reticulated forklift or a crane to life larger panels.

- Tighter buildings make radiant systems effective.

- Indoor air quality should be considered due to the airtight nature of these panels.